High Court Rules Out Action Against Retired IAS Officer S.K. Joshi

Swift Summary

• Telangana High Court has directed the State government to refrain from initiating adverse action against retired IAS officer S.K. Joshi based on the findings of the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission report until October 7, 2025.
• The directive follows a writ petition filed by Joshi, who had served as Principal Secretary for Irrigation during BRS government’s execution of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.
• Joshi argued that mandatory notices under Sections 8A and 8B of the Commissions of Inquiries Act-1952 were not served to him by the Commission before alleging violations in financial and technical decisions related to project approvals.
• The High Court has also protected BRS leaders including former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar rao and T.Harish Rao from coercive action following separate pleas challenging similar adverse conclusions in connection with their roles in irrigation project management during their tenure.
• Advocate General A.Sudarshan Reddy informed that no immediate adverse actions will be taken based on this report; though,CBI investigations into alleged misappropriation are underway using reports from Central agencies such as National Dam Safety Authority.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The Telangana High Court’s interim directions underline critical procedural considerations required in commission probes, especially under legislative mandates like Sections 8A and 8B of the Commissions of Inquiries Act-1952 which ensure fairness through serving notices before accusations are leveled or acted upon. Such judicial scrutiny is vital for maintaining due process while dealing with high-profile infrastructure projects like Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project involving notable public funds.

Given ongoing CBI investigations and inputs from national safety authorities regarding discrepancies, impartial outcomes could lead to more transparent governance practices around large-scale developments across India’s states if pursued rigorously under legal frameworks without partisan interference or premature punitive measures.For read more link